Device for decanting a pressurized liquid

ABSTRACT

A device for decanting a pressurized liquid into packaging containers, such as ampules, vials, or the like, having a reservoir for the liquid and a distributor that is connected to the reservoir via a supply line. A sterilizing filter is interposed in the supply line. In order to make it possible for the distributor to be completely emptied, the device embodies a separate pressure connection which applies a second pressure on the distributor so that the liquid disposed in the distributor is acted on with a second gas pressure (P2).

PRIOR ART

The invention relates to a device for decanting pressurized liquid intopackaging containers, as has been disclosed, for example, by EP 0 430897 B1. This device has a gas pressurized reservoir that is for a liquidand is connected via a supply line to a distributor that is in turnconnected to filling valves associated with the packaging containers.

In order to prevent germs contained in the liquid from getting into thepackaging containers, especially with pharmaceutical products, it isknown to convey the liquid through a sterilizing filter before thedecanting. So that no other germs can get into the liquid after itpasses through the sterilizing filter, this filter is disposed as closeas possible to the decanting mechanisms or the filling valves. For spaceand handling reasons, though, in most cases, it is not possible todispose the sterilizing filter in the flow path between the distributorand the filling valves; it is more often situated directly upstream ofthe distributor.

The ceramic-containing sterilizing filters usually used, though, havethe disadvantage that they have a shutoff action as soon as they aremerely acted on with a gas pressure in the through flow direction, i.e.that there is no more liquid in the sterilizing filter. Only with a verymuch higher gas pressure, for which the operation of the device is nototherwise designed, is the shutoff action neutralized once more. Withthe above mentioned generic type of devices, which have a reservoir anda distributor and also have a sterilizing filter preceding them, thismeans that the reservoir can in fact be completely emptied, but that dueto the above mentioned shutoff action of the sterilizing filter,however, liquid remains in the distributor, which can no longer bedecanted due to the low liquid pressure still prevailing there.Particularly with expensive pharmaceutical products, this liquidremaining in the distributor represents a considerable cost factor,which encumbers the operation of the device and consequently the priceof the end product.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The device according to the invention, for decanting a pressurizedliquid, has the advantage over the prior art that even the liquidquantity remaining in the distributor when the reservoir is emptied canbe used for decanting into the packaging containers. As a result, theoperation of the device is less costly. This is achieved according tothe invention by virtue of the fact that the distributor has a separatepressure connection so that the liquid disposed in the distributor isacted on by a second gas pressure that is independent of the pressure inthe reservoir.

Other advantages and advantageous modifications of the device accordingto the invention that is for decanting a pressurized liquid ensue fromthe dependent claims and the description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Two exemplary embodiments of the invention are represented in thedrawing and will be explained in more detail in the description below.

FIG. 1 shows a first device for decanting a pressurized liquid in aschematic representation; and

FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment, likewise in a schematicrepresentation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The device 10 for decanting a liquid 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a productcontainer 11 for the liquid 1. The product container 11 is connected toa first pressure line 12 which is connected to a pressure source, notshown, and acts on the liquid 1 disposed in the product container 11with a first gas pressure P1. A supply line 14 leads from the bottom 13of the product container 11 and feeds into a distributor 15. A shutoffvalve 17 and a sterilizing filter 18 are interposed in the supply line14 in terms of the flow direction of the liquid 1, wherein thesterilizing filter 18 is disposed in the immediate vicinity upstream ofthe distributor 15.

The top side of the cylindrically embodied distributor 15 is fed by asecond pressure line 19, via which the liquid 1 disposed in thedistributor 15 is acted on with a second gas pressure P2. A first filllevel sensor 22 for detecting an upper fluid level and a second filllevel sensor 23 for detecting a lower fluid level are disposed in a sideor jacket wall 21 of the distributor 15. The two fill level sensors 22,23 are coupled to the control unit of the device 10. The distributor 15is also connected to a pressure sensor 24 which detects the totalpressure P prevailing in the liquid 1 in the distributor 15, which totalpressure is comprised of the hydrostatic partial pressure of the liquid1 and the gas partial pressure P2. Filling hoses 25 lead from the bottomof the distributor 15 and are each connected to a filling valve 26 thatcan be moved up and down. Each filling valve 26 is associated with apackaging container, not shown, for example a vial, an ampule, or thelike.

The packaging containers are supplied in a known, cyclical manner to thefilling valves 26 to be filled with a particular quantity of liquid, andare conveyed further after being filled. The dosing of the liquidquantity is regulated by means of the control unit of the device 10,taking into account the total pressure P of the liquid 1 detected by thepressure sensor 24.

If the fluid level of the liquid 1 in the distributor 15 has exceededthe lower fill level detected by the second fill level sensor 23, theshutoff valve 17 is opened by the control unit of the device 10 so thatliquid 1 can flow in from the product container 11, replenishing thedistributor 15. As a result, it is required that the gas pressure P1,together with the hydrostatic liquid pressure prevailing up to the mouthon the distributor 15, is greater than the gas pressure P2 prevailing inthe distributor 15. This condition must also be fulfilled for thecomplete emptying of the product container 11. As a rule, despite thepressure loss by means of the sterilizing filter 18, these conditionscan be achieved when the gas pressure P1 is greater than the gaspressure P2.

The distributor 15a of a second embodiment of the is invention,represented in FIG. 2, differs from the distributor 15 in FIG. 1 byvirtue of the fact that the distributor 15a is now embodied as tubular,wherein the main extension direction of the distributor 15a runshorizontally. Furthermore, the distributor 15a has a tube section 27that leads from one end face and protrudes vertically upward, in whichthe two fill level sensors 22a, 23a are disposed. The second pressureline 19a feeds into the top of the tube section 27, whereas the supplyline 14a feeds into the distributor 15a at the level of the distributor15a on the same side as the tube section 27.

Because the distributor 15a is now embodied as tubular, the fillinghoses 25a can be embodied as shorter than in the distributor 15 sincethe filling hoses 25a can be disposed directly above the packagingcontainers. This results in the fact that the length of the distributor15a is oriented toward the required space for the packaging containersthat are respectively supplied in cyclical fashion. In contrast to this,in the distributor 15 in the first exemplary embodiment according toFIG. 1, due to the cylindrical distributor 15 (with vertical mainextension direction), longer filling hoses 25 or ones that are disposedin a curved shape are required.

Furthermore, the distributor 15a, due to its shape, permits advantageswith regard to a CIP (clean in place) or SIP (sterile in place)cleaning. A tubular embodiment of the distributor 15a is useful,particularly with small filling quantities in the packaging containers,which also only require a small total volume of the distributor 15.

The foregoing relates to preferred exemplary embodiments of theinvention, it being understood that other variants and embodimentsthereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, thelatter being defined by the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A device (10) for decanting a pressurized liquid (1) intopackaging containers, such as ampules, vials, or the like, comprising areservoir (P1) for the liquid (1), said liquid is acted on by a firstgas pressure (P1), a tubular having a horizontal main extensiondirection distributor (15a) is coupled to filling valve devices (25a,26a) and is connected to the reservoir (11) via a supply line (14a), thedistributor (15a) has a region (27) that protrudes vertically upward anddisposed on a side remote from the filling valve mechanisms (25a, 26a),and at least one fill level measuring device (22a, 23a) is disposed insaid region (27), a filter element (18) for filtering the liquid (1) isdisposed in the supply line (14a) between the reservoir (11) and thedistributor (15a), and that the distributor (15a) has an additionalpressure connection (19a) for acting on the liquid (1) disposed in thedistributor (15a) with a second gas pressure (P2).
 2. A device (10) fordecanting a pressurized liquid (1) into packaging containers, such asampules, or vials, comprising a reservoir (11) for the liquid (1), saidliquid is acted on by a first gas pressure (P1), a tubular having ahorizontal main extension direction distributor (15a) is coupled tofilling valve devices (25a, 26a) and is connected to the reservoir (11)via a supply line (14a), distributor (15a) has a region (27) thatprotrudes vertically upward and is disposed on a side remote from thefilling valve mechanisms (25a, 26a), and at least one fill levelmeasuring device (22a, 23a) is disposed in said region 27, a filterelement (18) for filtering the liquid (1) is disposed in the supply line(14a) between the reservoir (11) and the distributor (15a), and that thedistributor (15a) has an additional pressure connection (19a) for actingon the liquid (1) disposed in the distributor (15a) with a second gaspressure (P2), and a pressure sensor (24a) is disposed in thedistributor (15a) for detecting a total pressure of the liquid (1).
 3. Adevice (10) for decanting a pressurized liquid (1) into packagingcontainers, such as ampules, or vials, comprising a reservoir (11) forthe liquid (1), said liquid is acted on by a first gas pressure (P1), atubular distributor (15a) having a horizontal main extension directionis coupled to filling valve devices (25a, 26a) and is connected to thereservoir (11) via a supply line (14a), the distributor (15a) has aregion (27) that protrudes vertically upward and is disposed on a sideremote from the filling valve mechanisms (25a, 26a), and at least onefill level measuring device (22a, 23a) is disposed in said region (27),a filter element (18) is disposed in the supply line (14a) in an inletregion of the distributor (15a) between the reservoir (11) and thedistributor (15a), and that the distributor (15a) has an additionalpressure connection (19a) for acting on the liquid (1) disposed in thedistributor (15a) with a second gas pressure (P2).